Friends Call Us In

“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” - Prov. 27:6

“Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance… See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.” - 2 Cor. 7:8-11a

On Sunday morning, we made a heartfelt apology to the CCLB community for an issue that a wise friend brought to our attention this summer. For several years now we’ve been leading you regularly through a communal prayer that uses the phrase “the temple” as a metaphor for what’s so often wrong with religion in general. Whatever our intentions or the original author’s, we now realize that given the horrible history of anti-Semitism in the church and the tragic harms it has led to, using that language was dangerous and not ok.

So today we want to say again that we’re very sorry; we’re going to keep learning and trying to do better. And thank you to the friend who brought this up to us, kindly and clearly, calling us in. Please feel free to reach out if you’d like to talk more.

There are so many areas we need to continue to grow in on this journey toward Jesus, and we can’t do it alone. When have you experienced a friend calling YOU in by showing you something you might be missing? How do you receive feedback given with love? Is there anything you sense an inner nudge to bring up with a friend yourself? Take a few minutes to sit with Jesus and these questions.

(For an example of someone learning and apologizing that inspires us, click HERE.)